Thomas Family |
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I am essentially certain of my descent going back to the Massey Thomas who was born 23 March 1760, of Culpeper County, Virginia, and died 23 March 1818, of Ohio County, Kentucky. Prior to that it is difficult to be sure, as I note that there seem to be several men in this family named Massey Thomas. So I am researching this family, trying to prove which Thomas couple produced this particular Massey Thomas of mine. What particulars I know about this family comes generally from Massey's wife's Revolutionary War Widow's Pension Application, number W8785. Within this set of documents is a copy of the Thomas family record, and several other items of interest to those researching the family. I am going to post images of several of these, and then what follows is a long abstract of the same set of documents, created by someone else, and sent to me many years ago. I wish I had been better at source documentation when I was beginning my research. Thank you, whoever sent me this! I have made a few changes to this long abstract. It will eventually be replaced in its entirety by the images and my transcriptions thereof. |
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Abstract of Revolutionary War Widow's Pension Application of Dicey Thomas, Widow of Massey Thomas 1847-1849 Certificate Council chamber 18th February 1784 I do certify that Massey Thomas is entitled to the proportion of land allowed a Private of the Continental Line who has served three years. Signed Benjamin Hamason, Thomas Merriwether A Warrant for 100 acres issued to Massey Thomas 19th February, 1784 S.H. Parker Reg. s. Office Certificate Massey Thomas drew a Warrant for 100 acres as a private in the Continental Line for three years. The warrant issued to Thomas himself in Feby. 1784. At this early period no papers containing proof of kinship ... we have the execution order only. Signed Wm. W. Parker, chf. Clk. (Register Abst:) Depositions taken in Ohio Co., Kentucky, 18 May 1847 Deposition of Dicey Thomas ...declares that she is the widow of Massey Thomas who served in the Army of the Revolution as I understand five years he entered the army by enlistment but whether he enlisted more than once I cannot tell at Sixteen years of age in the year 1776 and was appointed to the office of Ensign enlisted under Cornol Bluford from Culpeper County Virginia was in the battle of Brandywine and several other battles but at present time can't remember where he went to the North with the army took the measles lost his health and was then appointed to drive the medical wagon if I mistake not of Dr. Gregg and drove the wagon somewhere in the state of Maryland he subsequently recovered his health and went to his former post in the army and returned home some time in the year 1781. I was married to the said Massey Thomas on the third day of June 1783 by Esquire Wallace I believe in Sullivan County North Carolina my name before marriage was Dicey Tolbert but whether by proclamation or licens I know but little my husband died in March 1818. I have a family record and the following is a true copy written by my said husband more than fifty years ago and have been in my possession ever since.
Massey Thomas was born 23 March 1760 Rhody Gentry can prove that I was the soldier's wife before the first day of January 1794 and Joseph Gentry can prove the death of my husband and I have lived a widow ever since my husbands death he never drew a pension. I guess? I can prove his services at least in part by Robert Render of this County and have lived in this county more than forty five years and have never made application for a pension before my husband once had a discharge but had lost it before we ever thought of getting a pension. She further declares that she was not married to the said Massey Thomas prior to his leaving the army but that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794. Signed, Dicy Thomas Deposition of Rhoda (Thomas) Gentry ...says that she was acquainted with the aforesaid Massey Thomas and Dicey Thomas previous to the first day of February 1794 when they were then living together as man and wife and continued to do so until the death of the said Massey Thomas. Signed, Rhoda Gentry, Her Mark. Deposition of Joseph Gentry ...says that he became acquainted with the aforesaid Massey Thomas and Dicy Thomas about fifty years ago was acquainted with him until the day of his death which occurred on the 23rd of March 1818. I know they had a family record and the foregoing copy is correct as far back as I became acquainted with it have also heard him say that he was in the Revolution ___? ___? and that he served at least five years. Signed, Joseph Gentry, His Mark. Deposition of William Thomas .........I have been acquainted with the aforesaid family record for almost forty years ago they then had it in their possession it was written in the hand of the aforesaid Massey Thomas and the foregoing is a trew copy to the best of my judgement. Massey Thomas said he was at the taking of Cornwallis in 1781. Signed, William Thomas Deposition of Robert Render ...that he became acquainted with the aforesaid Massey Thomas shortly after he returned from the Army of the Revolution I think he enlisted under Abraham Bleuford then Captain subsequently Cornal Blueford. have heard him say that after his return from the regular services he took office as a substitute of Samuel Plunking? Picken? of Culpeper county Va.......... Deposition of William Tang ....that he became acquainted with the above named Massey Thomas in the time of the revolutionary war but being engaged in another part of the army I am not able to say who he served under as officers neither can I say whether he was an officer or a private soldier I believe he enlisted in 1776 I saw him in the winter of >77 or >78 in port tobacco? in the state of Maryland he was then driving Doctor Greggs medicine waggon. Doctor Gregg was one of General Washington's medical gentlemen.............. Deposition of Dicey Thomas taken in Ohio County,
Kentucky 5th April 1848 ...depose and say that she is the widow of Massey Thomas as set forth in her declaration to obtain a pension.......that after her husband had served out the term of his enlistment, he went home to Culpeper County Virginia to see his relations and served several tours in the Militia of Virginia as a substitute for persons who had been drafted. That she is satisfied that her husband served at some period of his military services under Col. Buford that she is not able to state whether he so served under him in the Militia or as a regular soldier her said husband was of rather dark complexion about five feet and two inches in height his eyes were black his hair dark and he was by trade a farmer and was a resident of Culpeper County Virginia prior to his enlistment ...... Signed, Dicey Thomas |
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Deposition of George Render taken in Ohio County, Kentucky 11 July 1848 ....says that he is a minister of the gospel and is about 76 years of age and that he was intimately acquainted with Massey Thomas in Virginia and in Kentucky until his death the said Massey Thomas was a member of the Baptist Church and was known as a man of truth and good caracter and that he is also well acquainted with Dicey Thomas the widow of Massey Thomas and that he knew them as husband and wife in the year 1797 in the State of Kentucky, Ruff Creek, Ohio County...... deponent resided in the same neighborhood in Virginia with said Thomas, he recollects well of hearing that Massey Thomas had enlisted in the army and also perfectly recollects that it was afterwards said that the said Thomas was in the army and the deponent further states that after the close of the war he recolects it was said that said Massey Thomas returned home from the army and he was gladly received by his friends and relatives and further this deponent sayeth not. Signed, George Render Letter from Pension Office August 12th 1848 Sir, I have the honor to inform you that the additional evidence transmitted by you in the case of Dicy Thomas, widow of Massey Thomas, has been received and filed with her other papers. The name of claimant's husband is borne upon the rolls of Capt. Gillson's Company of the 6th Virginia Regiment as having enlisted for twelve months which is sufficient to establish his service for that period. But, the evidence now before the Department does not establish the date of their marriage with the certainty required. The witnesses who have testified on this point refer to no fact associated with the marriage of these parties by which they have been enabled to retain the date thereof to this late period. Letter from Clerk of Court, Sullivan County, Tennessee, in response to request for proof of marriage (undated) In answer to your letter of 11 June I have to say that the only proof of Marriage that could exist in my office according to our laws is the Marriage License Bond and I have examined the Bonds on file in my office for the Bond of Massey and Dicey Thomas and have not been able to find such bond. [Sullivan Co., TN was formed from Washington District, NC, in 1799.] Depositions taken in Ohio County, Kentucky, 4th October 1848 Deposition of Robert Render ......The deponent says that he knew Massey and his wife Dicey Thomas in the year 1799, that he was at the house of Massey Thomas in the County of Ohio State of Ky in the section of Rough Creek and the witness state of his own knowledge that Massey Thomas and his wife Dicey Thomas then had children then in the year 1799 who at that time was 13 or 14 years old ........... Signed, Robert Render Deposition of James Baird ....says that I became acquainted with Massey Thomas in the year 1796 -- the said Thomas came to Hartford in company with a Mr. Benjamin Tolbert a Baptist Preacher. They said their purpose was to look at this County, and the next year or the second year after Mr. Thomas and Mr. Tolbert moved to highlandoo?, then Hardin County now Ohio County and shortly after Mr. Thomas came to the county I was at his house and saw his Family, the oldest children from their size I would judge to be 10 or 12 years of age as seen? from that time till the death of Mr. Thomas he and his wife Dicey was reputed as man and wife -- and that Dicey Thomas the widow of Massey Thomas is now living in Ohio county with her Son in law Joseph Gentry and that Massey Thomas from the time I became acquainted with him, was reputed a Revolutionary Soldier and a Sergeant in the Service -- The reason why I recollect the time above stated is that in 1796 my Father moved to Hartford and a short time after Mr. Thomas and Mr. Tolbert came to his house and I in Company with others went and showed them Land. Signed James Baird Letter to Pension Office Feb. 27 /49 Dear Sir: Dicey Thomas, widow of Massey Thomas represents that a number of years ago [actually 2] she applied for a pension under the act of 7th July 1838 and that subsequent thereto that she had a family register which was furnished with the other proofs that she also filed the certificate of the Clerk of the Court of Sullivan County North Carolina sharing that his office affords no proof of her marriage -- that she also filed the depositions of numerous persons which fully establish her marriage prior to 1794 -- the requirements and I in her behalf urge that her claim may be allowed ........ Signed S. Breese [probably Sidney Breese] Deposition of Joseph Gentry taken in Ohio County, Kentucky, 9th June, 1849 says that the attached family record of Massey Thomas and Dicey Thomas is a true copy so far as his information serves and was written by Benjamin Thomas their third child in the year 1818 that is thirty one years ago and has been in his possession from that date to the present time he further states on his oath that his wife is the oldest daughter of the said Massey and dicey Thomas and the said Dicey Thomas is still living..... Signed, Joseph Gentry Joseph
& Rhoda Gentry's
Family Record (written
for them by Benjamin Thomas) An
Age Book, Benjamin Thomas, His hand and ___? Massey
Thomas was born March the 23 Day AD 1760 Dicey
Thomas was born March the 24 Day AD 1763 Massey
Thomas and Dicey his wife was Married June the 3 Day AD 1783 Rhoda
Thomas was born September the 24 Day AD 1784 James
Thomas was born August the 27 Day AD 1786 Benjamin
Thomas was born September the 20 Day AD 1788 John
Thomas was Born December the 29 Day AD 1792 William
Thomas was born May the 12 Day AD 1795 Massey
Gentry was born December the 4 Day AD 1801 Samuel
Gentry was born February the 1 day AD 1804 Dicey
Gentry was born May the 31 Day AD 1806 Sally
Gentry was born November the 1 Day AD 1808 James
Gentry was born March the 12 Day AD 1811 Benjamin
Gentry Was born March the 7 Day AD 1813
B Thos his hd Deposition of James Thomas taken in Lewis County, Missouri 11th June 1849 ...the within enclosed Family Register containing a record of his birth and marriage together with those of his children was written by himself -- his own birth therein recorded being transcribed from the Family Register of his Father and the other events therein mentioned down to the birth of John Valentine Lewis a grandson of affiant? when the same respectively occurred in an old family Bible from which they were transcribed onto the enclosed record about the year 1830 because of deponents having at that time procured another Bible out of which the enclosed record is taken since which time he has used the within as his Family Register recording the events therein mentioned as they respectively occurred. That said record has been in his keeping ever since it was written. This affiant? further says that he is a son of Massey Thomas and Dicey Thomas and that he believes that the enclosed record is true in every particular.... Signed, James Thomas Dicey Thomas was awarded a pension in the amount of $40 per year; Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of July, 1849. This was subsequently corrected to the amount of $80 per year since Massey had served not just one year, but 3 or more; Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of October, 1849. |
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